Disney showplace fit for princesses

Paige Raley, 2, stikes a princess pose for her dad and mom, Dave and Heather Raley, during the pre-opening of Fantasy Faire at Disney Tuesday. The official March 12 debut will allow guest to visit princesses in a regal village and also watch live stage shows. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

ANAHEIM – Alessandra Douglas of Las Vegas was getting a princess makeover at Disneyland – a yellow Belle dress, glittered hairstyle and pink sash – for her third birthday.

She was tapped with a surprise invitation: Want to meet a princess?

Alessandra lucked out and was among visitors allowed into the new Fantasy Faire, where the public can meet princesses, as the theme park showed off the attraction to reporters on Tuesday. She chatted with Cinderella, telling her she wanted her own castle for her birthday.

Next Tuesday, Disneyland will officially open Fantasy Faire, a 15,000-square-foot area considered the first major addition to Fantasyland since 1985. The Faire juts out in front of the west side of Sleeping Beauty Castle where Carnation Plaza Gardens used to sit at the end of Main Street, U.S.A.

The cornerstone is a building where visitors will meet princess characters and take pictures with them. The princesses have moved from the Fantasyland Theater, which will debut a new show this summer.

"I think the big difference is this one is very immersive," said Michel Den Dulk, creative designer lead of Walt Disney Imagineering, which creates attractions. "The setting is much more appropriate."

The Faire includes a courtyard and the Royal Theatre, which will host two vaudeville-style shows three times daily; the 20-minute shows are based on "Tangled" and "Beauty and the Beast."

On Tuesday, Jennifer Trainor and her daughter, Poppy, of Calgary, Canada, were celebrating the girl's fifth birthday by taking pictures in front of the nearby Sleeping Beauty Castle when they were asked if they wanted to come to Fantasy Faire.

"It was just kind of fortunate that she got plucked out of the crowd," Trainor said. "It's perfect."

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Paige Raley, 2, stikes a princess pose for her dad and mom, Dave and Heather Raley, during the pre-opening of Fantasy Faire at Disney Tuesday. The official March 12 debut will allow guest to visit princesses in a regal village and also watch live stage shows. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Two year-old Paige Raley blows kisses with Cinderella during the pre-opening of Fantasy Faire at Disney Tuesday. The official March 12 debut will allow guests to visit princesses in a regal village and watch live stage shows. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Poppy Trainor, 5, at right, flies off her princess perch as Cate Bailey, 3, watches. They were at Disney's preview day of Fantasy Faire, which officially opens March 12. Trainor and her mom Jennifer traveled from Canada to visit the park, a mother/daughter tradition to celebrate turning 5. Trainor has three other sisters. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Sisters Audrey, 4, at left, and Ava Smith, 5, practice their "huzzah's" or cheers, with villagers at Disneyland's preview of Fantasy Faire Tuesday. The new enchanted village will include the Royal Theatre for interactive story-telling and a Royal Hall for meeting princesses. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Goodfellow family prepares for their photo with Cinderella as dad. Ryan Goodfellow, straightens his little pirate's hat. From left Cole, 5, Natalie, 10, Brooke, 8, Quinn, 2, and Maggie, 6. The family was visiting from Northern California and got to preview Disney's new Fantasy Faire village. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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